Forests throughout southern Ohio are at their peak color and the leaves could hang on for another 10 days unless rain, snow and wind knock them off.

Any of the major woodlots would be ideal for looking up while crunching through dry leaves, according to Jim Lynch, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Some oaks still are turning, so their brilliant reds and purples will come out in the next few days.

Today will be cloudy and breezy with a 40 percent chance of showers and highs in the upper 50s, according to Jeffrey Sites, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Saturday, he's predicting a chance of rain with highs between 40 and 45. Sunday, it will be mostly cloudy with temperatures rising from the mid 20s to the 40s. AccuWeather is forecasting slightly warmer temperatures both days, with highs in the low to mid-50s.

Traditional leaf-looking locales still are good, ODNR's Mr. Lynch said, including Hock ing Hills State Park and Hocking State Forest, between Chillicothe and Logan, and Shawnee State Park and Forest near Portsmouth.

Anywhere close around their homes, added Bill Schultz, spokesman for ODNR Division of Forestry; but if people want to drive, he suggested Wayne National Forest and its Lake Vesuvius National Recreation Area near Ironton, Dean State Forest near Pedro, and Strouds Run State and Burr Oak State Parks near Athens.

Mr. Schultz said he'd highly recommend Zaleski State Forest and its Lake Hope State Park between Athens and Chillicothe, and Ohio 78, the rim of the world highway with great views and proximity to Wayne National Forest north of Athens.

Mr. Schultz said parks closer to Cincinnati  including Caesar Creek, East Fork and Hueston Woods  are reporting fading colors and lots of leaf drop.

In Kentucky, Jim Carroll, spokesman for the Department of Parks, suggested Big Bone Lick State Park near Union in Boone County, Gen. Butler State Resort Park on Interstate 71 at Carrollton, and Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park on U.S. 68 south of Maysville.